China accuses the Philippines of 'playing with fire' over Taiwan issue

China accuses the Philippines of 'playing with fire' over Taiwan issue

(Manila): On Friday, August 8, China accused the Philippines of "playing with fire" after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Philippines would be drawn into any conflict that erupts between China and the United States over Taiwan. This was reported by the Reuters news agency.

Earlier this week, during a visit to India on Wednesday, Mr. Marcos stated that due to the Philippines' geographical proximity to Taiwan and the large Filipino community there, involvement would be necessary if a war were to break out.

In response to the Philippine President's comments, the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that geographical proximity and a large overseas population are not excuses for a country to interfere in the internal affairs of another.

Beijing continued by insisting that the Philippines respect the "One China" principle and not "play with fire" on issues concerning China's core interests. According to Beijing, Mr. Marcos's remarks not only violate international law and the ASEAN charter but also affect peace and stability in the region, as well as the fundamental interests of the Filipino people.

It should be noted that since Mr. Marcos became the leader of the Philippines, tensions have risen sharply with China over territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The two countries have accused each other of provocative actions and violations of sovereignty in the area, prompting the United States to publicly reaffirm its commitment to defending the Philippines.